A Top Scholar in Everything-Chapter 934 - 920: Storm City

It's possible some exaggeration lies in describing the air as filled with the scent of money.

But stating that half of the city is built by money? That's absolutely correct.

Specially trained Sub-human Race served by the Free Federation, high-end mechanical creations imported by the Mechanical Church, and various birds of prey trained with Beast Taming Technique by the Great Yan Imperial.

Here.

You can see characteristics from several surrounding countries.

"Hello, sir, do you need our service?"

In the streets of Storm City, one can easily spot Sub-humans with sweet appearances and distinctly feminine voices, wearing revealing clothes, soliciting on the roadside.

They are either restaurant servers.

Or saleswomen in shopping malls.

Liu Ru's expression remained unchanged, always walking at the forefront.

"We're almost there. This time, my master will definitely reward you well. As for finding someone, it's not a troublesome matter. With Storm City's network, you'll definitely find them quickly."

Liu Ru explained to Baiyu.

Because of the guilt in her heart, she brought Baiyu to Storm City, one to solve the issue with two Dark Dragon Knights, and second, after learning Baiyu's search for someone from the Free Federation, her heart began to stir with ideas.

Storm City is not peaceful right now.

It's no exaggeration to say the old City Lord, though healthy and without problems, is already planning the selection for the next City Lord.

There can only be one City Lord in Storm City.

But the old City Lord has over ten children.

As an always fair and just City Lord, he abandoned directly appointing the next City Lord and instead allowed his children to compete fairly.

Storm City originated from commerce.

As the master of a city, martial strength might not be necessary, but the mind must be sharp.

Martial strength is not needed.

The old City Lord naturally has his ways.

But without a sharp mind, there's truly no saving it.

Hence the old City Lord set a rule: each child gets a start-up fund, and within ten years, whether through trade or business, whoever earns the most profit will become the next City Lord.

Of course.

This competition is monitored strictly by the old City Lord's confidantes.

Any borrowing or using other means outside the rules for profit will result in immediate disqualification.

This competition is very fair.

But in some respects, it's not entirely fair.

After all, each child's social circle, strength, and their mother's family's power are different, so their starting point is not on the same line.

For instance.

Some children have a wide network; any business they do easily finds a market.

Some children focus solely on refining Martial Dao and are not good at socializing, making them engage in business, isn't that leading them to destruction?

Yet reality is like this.

Unfair.

But relatively speaking.

The old City Lord has no choice.

To find a suitable heir, this emerged as the best method.

Liu Ru's master is one of the old City Lord's children, but this one is somewhat special.

As for how special.

Liu Ru wouldn't say much, and instead mysteriously informed Baiyu that when the time comes, he would naturally know.

Baiyu immediately indicated.

He didn't care to know these strange things; he only wanted to find someone.

Using Storm City's information network.

Baiyu could quickly locate the city within the Free Federation where the person he was looking for resided.

Liu Ru led him through twists and turns to the most prosperous area of Storm City, where just a piece of land costs more than a common person could earn in a lifetime.

And the land utilization rate here is high.

Almost every building is closely adjacent to another; each one is a skyscraper, looking like a futuristic sci-fi world.

Along with cars flying occasionally in the sky and patrolling robots wandering all around.

Truly resembling the high-tech world of the future as described in sci-fi novels.

However.

In such an alternative location, there is a wall constructed with bricks and painted red, exuding a strong historic weight.

In the middle of the wall.

There are two heavy doors.

On each side stands a stone-carved majestic lion, full of grandeur.

Baiyu didn't expect so grand an estate to exist in the tech-heavy central district of Storm City.

No need for Liu Ru to say it, Baiyu already knew.

This must be the estate of her master, one of the City Lord's children.

"Xiaoxiang Courtyard."

Approaching the gate.

Above the two strong doors hung a meticulously carved plaque, inscribed with these elegant three characters.

The materials used to construct the doors and carve the plaque surely aren't ordinary; as Baiyu approached, he felt a sense of tranquility; the hustle and bustle outside no longer concerned him.

These doors and the plaque.

Actually have a calming effect.

Baiyu rarely encountered such things.

"Knock, knock."

Liu Ru knocked on the door, and soon a person appearing to be a guard ran over to open the door.

The entire Xiaoxiang Courtyard is vast.

It's full of pavilions and towers, winding and turning.

Baiyu saw ponds, gardens, and various residential houses along the way; each elegantly aligned, emanating an expensive aura without displaying any exotic goods.

It's a complete garden.

Every section inside is arranged by skilled designers, constructed with superior artistry and techniques.

In essence.

The entire courtyard is an artwork.

Such an elegant and natural garden, decorated with gold or other tacky elements, would lower its standards.

However, Baiyu noticed.

Such a massive mansion is sparsely populated; hardly any servants are seen.

Logically speaking, such a large garden requires at least a hundred servants to function. For a person living here, employing hundreds of Sub-human servants shouldn't be a difficult task?

Liu Ru, silently leading the way ahead.

Not usually a talkative person, but at this moment, having other thoughts regarding Baiyu, she was concerned about his emotions.

Seeing his puzzled expression.

Liu Ru paused and said, "My master has dismissed most of the servants to reduce expenses, which is why you don't see many people in the garden."

After a few seconds.

Finding her earlier explanation somewhat crude, potentially causing misunderstanding, she added, "It's not about my master being stingy; it's truly unavoidable. Since the old City Lord began the competition for the City Lord's succession, the financial sources for each child have been cut off, forcing them to earn their living. However, my master doesn't favor earning unclean money, hence now saving on expenses."

Baiyu was intrigued.

Even if the old City Lord cut off financial support, as a rightful child of the City Lord, shouldn't be reduced to such a plight?